China: Beijing to introduce new immigration and visa policies for foreigners

New visa and immigration policies introduced for highly skilled workers in Beijing.

Zhongguancun Science Park to pilot the new immigration policies

In line with the Government's recent decision to focus on innovation, knowledge and technology in the country; China relaxed rules for the highly skilled foreign workers in established business enterprises and institutions at the Zhongguancun Science Park (also known as the “Zhongguancun Enterprise”). Changes include:

• Approval period for a permanent residency to be reduced for highly skilled workers.

• Work-visa-on-arrival, for foreigners in start-ups and technically skilled workers employed with the Zhongguancun Companies that have an employment license to hire foreign workers.

• New rules for foreigners of Chinese origin for Zhongguancun Companies

The exit-entry administration bureau at Beijing would be clarifying the rules and working of the improvised practice in the coming weeks. It is advisable that the Zhongguancun companies first chick the eligibility criteria for their highly skilled workers, before filing in applications.

Beijing Green Card Criteria to be relaxed.

Green Card Criteria for highly skilled foreign nationals in Beijing have been relaxed. Beijing announced the recent change in its policy for foreign nationals who meet certain criteria:

• A foreign national must have resided in China for a minimum of 6 months a year, for past 4 years; and must have worked in Beijing for consecutive 4 years.

• Should have a minimum pretax earning of RMB 500,000 and paid a personal income tax of more than RMB 100,000 per year

• Highly skilled workers must be sponsored by the respective employers in Beijing.

China had implemented these new rules in Shanghai starting July 2015 and similar rules with local variations have been introduced in Beijing.

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